Singapore
Airlines have announced a plan to trial a paperless cabin with the trial of
electronic versions of the SilverKris,
KrisShop and KrisWorld in flight magazines and with future plans to provide
electronic versions of the airlines menus, wine lists and international newspapers.

This initiative is
expected to dramatically reduce the total weight which in turn will reduce the amount
of fuel consumed.

The trial is
expected to commence from 31 July on two Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft followed by
two Airbus A380s all equipped with the latest Panasonic eX2 In-flight
entertainment systems.

The full media
release from Singapore Airlines can be read below:

SINGAPORE AIRLINES
ANNOUNCES TRIAL TO GO PAPERLESS

In its latest move towards more
environmentally-friendly operations, with the ultimate aim of a paperless
cabin, Singapore Airlines will progressively introduce an electronic version of
magazines on its award-winning KrisWorld inflight entertainment system.
As a first step, the Airline will offer in electronic format its three inflight
magazines – SilverKris, KrisShop and KrisWorld – as part of a trial with
a privately held Singapore-based company, SmarttPapers Aviation Pte Ltd.

SilverKris, SIA’s travel magazine; KrisShop, the
Airline’s inflight sales catalogue; and KrisWorld, SIA’s inflight
entertainment guide; will be the first publications featured as part of the
inflight entertainment system offerings.

The SmarttPapers™ application uses a patented file
compression technology to compress and transform magazines and newspaper
contents into a digital format for integration into the inflight entertainment
system.

In line with efforts to reduce the amount of paper
carried on board, thus reducing weight and saving fuel, the Airline aims to
extend this initiative to other publications at a later date, including menu
cards and the more than 100 international and local magazines currently carried
system wide. The plan is also to introduce e-newspapers and e-books on board
using the same technology.

Singapore Airlines will be the first in the
world to have this unique feature on its aircraft fleet equipped with the
latest Panasonic eX2™ inflight entertainment system (IFE), starting with two Boeing 777-300ERs from 31 July,
followed by two Airbus A380s. More A380s and B777-300ERs, as well as other
aircraft fitted with the eX2™ system – Airbus A330-300s and A340-500s –
will have this feature included in the fleet.

Said Singapore Airlines’
Senior Vice President Product & Services, Mr Yap Kim Wah, “This opens up a wide range of opportunities
to benefit our customers and at the same time results in less weight in the
aircraft. E-books and e-magazines have gained popularity and we want to offer
these to our customers.”

Added Winston Wei, CEO of
SmarttPapers Aviation Pte Ltd,“We
are pleased to be chosen by SIA to enable this revolutionary onboard
experience. Customers will be able to enjoy a wide range of current and
archived publications starting with the Airline’s three inflight magazines in
high resolution from the comfort of their seats. Features will include a
keyword search, personalised
font size and different zooming
levels to aid reading.”